Worst To First: How Business-friendly Is Your State?

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As a place to start and grow a solution provider business, Hawaii isn't paradise, not with its high labor/business costs, which ranked it No. 46. It also has the highest energy costs, and its high cost of living ranks it No. 44 in that criteria.

Hawaii is in the middle of the pack in the areas of workforce experience and education (No. 25). It's No. 43 in the tax and regulatory burden on businesses: While it has a low corporate income tax, it's one of only four states that charge a tax on computer services (4 percent in Hawaii). And it's ranked a poor No. 48 for its regulatory environment. While it may be a great place to learn to surf, the state's climate for innovation and growth was only No. 45 among the states, and its overall ranking for providing business opportunities was ranked a meager No. 49.

Hawaii has no solution providers on the Tech Elite 250, Next-Gen 250 or Fast Growth 100 and 50 Up-And-Comers lists.